THE BACK STORY

In the years leading up to the launch of the Dignity Bus® in 2021, a generous donor offered to donate a used motorcoach (passenger bus) to The Source. We saw this as an opportunity to transform the bus into a mobile shelter. Inspired by customized tour buses used by rock bands, we envisioned creating “beds on wheels.” However, we couldn’t find any existing sleep buses for the homeless in the United States. After researching, we discovered a similar concept in Europe called the “easy sleeper night bus,” which was both comfortable and maneuverable.

Our maintenance team stripped down the motorcoach to ensure its stability before making any major renovations. Unfortunately, we found significant water damage, but salvageable parts that we could remove and use in a better vehicle.Through further research, we located a suitable passenger bus in another state and purchased it, driving it to our location in Florida. We also found a nearby fabrication company specializing in custom bus conversions that could help us achieve our vision. After five months of hard work, our first Dignity Bus® was successfully launched.